5BX Chart 3 First Impressions

This morning started the third chart of the 5BX exercise program.  I've come a long way since I originally started the program for Lent (I had given up video games, so no Wii Fit U workouts for me).  I was originally planning to stop 5BX when Lent was over, but I actually enjoyed doing 5BX and was impressed by the progress I was making, so I stuck with it.  With a new chart comes new variations and goals of the same five exercises.  Here are just some first impressions of how they feel:

Stretching

In this one, you are basically making a circle, touching the ground to the right of your feet, then inbetween them, and then to the left before going back up.  You reverse the direction after a set number of reps.  On the plus side, I felt way looser faster than with the previous stretching exercise (where you only touch between your feet and bounce).  However, my right thigh and calf (the latter being my old sciatica spot) was bugging me.  I took it easy for the rest of the exercise, lest I reinjure myself.  All the same, this is an exercise I'll keep a close eye on.

Sit-Ups

For the abdominal portion of Chart 3, the participant lays down with legs flat and hands behind head.  He or she then does a sit up.  Previously, hands behind head were not necessary.  I had a problem with this one.  After five or so reps, my old sciatica spot was feeling a bit tense (maybe a combination of this exercise and the stretches?), so I bent my knees and finisned my reps with no aggravation.  This is another I'll keep an eye on.

Back

For this exercise, the participant lies on his or her stomach with hands behind the back.  He or she then lifts the shoulders, chest, legs, and thighs off the ground as high as possible.  It's basically the same exercise as last time, but with hands behind the back instead of under the thighs.  This one was easy.  No pain.

Arms

This one was...interesting.  You lay on the ground with hands underneath your chest and there are three motions: touch your chin to the ground; touch your forehead to the ground; and then move yourself into a "downward-facing dog"-like pose.  To finish, you move into the prone position and then lower to the ground.  I admit that I hated doing Push-Ups in Chart 2, but this one was actually kind of fun to do!  It was really hard though (just barely passed for today), but I imagine doing this for the next 48 days will help.

Running

The only thing that changed was the time I needed to run my mile.  I've actually been doing well enough during the past week to pass at the C Level on Chart 3 (after a few weeks on Chart 2, I just stopped looking at goals as I was comfortably hitting them).  However, with an actual timetable and new goals to hit, my work is cut out for me.  By the end of the Chart, I'll need to consistently be able to run a sub-eight minute mile.  The last few days though, my leg has been bugging me a little.  If I need to take it easy, I will, but I also want to do my best.

...

Chart 3 is a mixed bag.  I imagine if my leg were feeling better, I might enjoy these exercises a little more.  All the same, there are some good ones in there (especially push-ups, just gotta be careful I don't hit my head on the ground.  Also need to keep an eye on my leg).  At this point, I'm over halfway toward my goal of Chart 4, Level C- (the level the program recommends I hit to be considered physically fit for someone my age).  Here's to continued success!  Onwards and upwards!